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This Just IN!

August 2023 Edition

August means school is back in session! Whether students are advancing in their PK-21 journey or heading off to college, we continue to be inspired by, invested in, and inclusive of students with intellectual disabilities with college dreams!

In this newsletter, you will find:

Be IN!spired: Student Story: Listen to ACC graduate Mark share about his social experiences during and after college!
Be IN!vested: Attend Johnson Storage & Moving's Annual Truck Pull
Be IN!clusive: Students are back on campus!
IN! Resources: Fall Webinars, Graduate Surveys, Office Hours
Community Resources: COEF Trainings, ThinkCollege Resources

Student Story: Mark Remains Involved in the Community!

Mark holds a microphone. He wears a blue collared shirt. There is a table in front of him with a computer.

In early August, Denver Public Schools held a conference for its special education teachers and paraprofessionals. We were thrilled to be invited to the conference to spread awareness about inclusive higher education, and we can't wait to further our partnership with DPS.

IN!'s session of the conference was a panel of IHE graduates, who each shared about their experience with one of the four pillars of inclusive higher education: academics, social life, career development, and independence.

Mark, an ACC graduate, shared wise words about the value of fostering socialization. Mark said, "I believe that socialization is important because we all need to know how to make new friends and be interactive with others."

Watch Mark's Presentation!

Johnson Storage & Moving Annual Truck Pull Fundraiser

Gear up for an unforgettable challenge at the Johnson Storage & Moving Truck Pull, benefiting IN! Pathways to Inclusive Higher Education and Easterseals Colorado.

When: Thursday, September 7 at 4:30 PM

Where: Johnson Storage & Moving, 7009 South Jordan Road, Centennial, CO 80112

What: Support IN! and Easterseals Colorado. Enjoy food, drinks, giveaways, and fun! Compete on a team of 10 people to pull 3 HUGE moving trucks!

Why: Let's pull together for a stronger, more inclusive tomorrow!

How: Curious to see what it looks like to pull a moving truck? Watch this video of a previous year's event!

Learn More and Register!

Fall Semester has Arrived!

6 UCCS students wait at an on-campus bus stop.

8 incoming UNC students stand outside. There is a mountain and some pine trees in the background.

We are so excited for students and educators to embark on the 2023-2024 school year! We want to take this opportunity to highlight the various orientation programs each of our IHE schools runs to welcome new and returning students to campus.

UCCS holds a week-long Mountain Lion Academy, in which students and parents participate in various sessions, tours of campus, and get-to-know-you activities. The fun includes an around-campus scavenger hunt, safety awareness, and time with peer mentors!
UNC invites new students and their parents to Rocky Mountain Village, Easterseals Colorado's accessible mountain retreat. There, they build community, spend time in nature, and learn about expectations of being a college student.
ACC invites new and returning students to campus for the 3 day Elevate Bootcamp, which includes a certification in Mental Health First Aid. They also find classrooms, do team building exercises, practice submitting online assignments, and dust off the summer to start the new school year!
The GLOBAL program welcomes its students during College Readiness Week. This is a time for students to get to know peer mentors, learn the campus, and practice healthy activities!

ACC students sit in a large room and participate in Mental Health First Aid training.

GLOBAL at Regis students stand in a rec center. There is a rock climbing wall in the background.

IN! Resources

This fall, our webinar series will focus on the key resources for success in college as well as the four pillars of inclusive higher education. We will also bring in various organizations and experts to discuss financial considerations, waivers, and employment supports. Register for webinars at this link. If you'd like to view topics which we are not covering this fall, you can find all previous webinars on our Youtube channel and the most popular ones on the IN! webinar page.
Are you a graduate or a parent of a graduate of an IHE program in Colorado? Please help us by filling out our graduate surveys! Click this link for the graduate survey and this link for the parent survey.
Office hours for prospective families are back! Have questions and want to have a personalized one-on-one meeting for guidance? Sign up for office hours at this link!

Community Resources

Check out these amazing opportunities to engage with community resources:

Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) trainings continue! The trainings deliver a statewide training curriculum that educates youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families/care providers about Employment First & the possibilities, processes, potential services, systems navigation, and strategies for securing work. Click this link for the Youth Training registration. If you are interested in the Family Training Registration, click this link.
For many students, the Fall Semester is in full swing! ThinkCollege has wonderful resources to help prepare and support families and students throughout the inclusive higher education process. Explore their Back to School resources here.

Thank you for believing in inclusive higher education! We invite you to give to our mission and help us continue opening doors and paving paths to inclusive higher education in our state.

Make a Donation Today

Another great way to make an impact for IN! is to follow, like, and share us on social media. Click the icons below to get connected!

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Littleton, CO 80122 United States

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